How the University of Washington (UW) leverages it self-service deskside and recycling program, MiniMax, to help improve accessibility to recycling and composting throughout campus.

1. UW RECYCLING’S
MINIMAX
PROGRAM
MARCH 10, 2016

2. THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
WELCOME TO THE UW
> Covers 543 acres
> Consists of 178 buildings
> Over 11,300,000 cleanable
gross square feet
> Nearly 71,000 people
come to campus each day

3. THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Facilities
Services
Building
Services Dept.
Custodial
Services
UW Recycling
UW RECYCLING’S ORGANIZATION CHART
Some key campus partners include:
• Housing & Food Services
• University of Washington Medical Center
• Intercollegiate Athletics
• UW Sustainability

4. SNAPSHOT OF
UW RECYCLING SERVICES
> Collect waste and recycling from
the main academic and facilities
buildings.
> Contract administrator for all
recycling and solid waste
contracts on the UW Seattle
campus.
> Coordinate compost and
recycling outreach programs
and events, including MiniMax.

5. SNAPSHOT OF UW’S WASTE
Sample of Materials Generated/Collected
Cans & Bottles Garbage
Concrete Paper
Construction & Demolition Scrap Metal
Electronics/White Goods Styrofoam
e.Media Toner Cartridges
Fluorescent bulbs Wood Waste
Food Waste Yard Waste
13,000 TONS GENERATED PER YEAR
(66% WASTE DIVERSION RATE)

6. SNAPSHOT OF UW RECYCLING’S
PROGRAMS
> SCRAM: Student Moveout
• Started in 2004; has kept over 100 tons of
material out of the landfill.
> Trash-In: Exploring the Way We Waste
• Annual waste sorting event where staff, faculty
& student volunteers sort through nearly 1,000
pounds of trash.
> Football Bluebag Outreach
• Distribute recycling bags throughout parking lots
to football game attendees.
> MiniMax
• Existing deskside garbage cans are exchanged
with self-service recycle and garbage
containers. (No liners provided.)

7. WHAT IS MINIMAX?
> Our approach to establishing a
comprehensive office waste diversion
program by
• Providing centralized (custodial-serviced)
compost/recycle/waste bins.
• Composting restroom paper towels.
Garbage
Recycling
MINIMIZE WASTE; MAXIMIZE RECYCLING (AND COMPOST!)

8. WHY COMPOST?
THE DENNY PROJECT: THE FUTURE OF WASTE AT THE UW
20%
7.3%
6.7%
% collected for recycling
% collected for compost
% estimated compost sent to landfill
% estimated garbage sent to landfill
% estimated recycling sent to landfill
34% sent to
landfill
39%
recycled
27%
composted
sent to
landfill
*estimates based on Trash‐In 2012 Report

9. HISTORY OF MINIMAX
2009 – Expanded program
to voluntary buildings
(i.e. Program of the
Environment, etc.)
2008 – Piloted
at the UW Tower
2010 – MiniMax became
standard for all new and
renovated buildings
2011 – Piloted public
area composting
2012 – Piloted restroom
paper towel composting
2013 – The UW
Garbology
Project
2015 – City ordinance
banning recycling &
compost from landfill

10. UW GARBOLOGY PROJECT
THE DENNY PROJECT: THE FUTURE OF WASTE AT THE UW

11. UW GARBOLOGY PROJECT
> An increase in waste diversion
by 10 percentage points: 42.6%
to 52.5%
> 83 fewer annual landfilled-tons
> 3.5% lower waste disposal costs
RESULTS

12. MINIMAX TODAY
101 total buildings
converted to MiniMax
YTD
1
35
25
40
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
MiniMax Installation Progression
# of Buildings

13. SUCCESSES

14. MINIMAX: PROGRAM SUCCESS
Planning
•Internal meetings with Custodial Services.
•Conversations with Building Coordinator / Department Admins.
•Present MiniMax information to affiliated groups.
Implementation
•Complete site visit(s) with custodial staff and building occupants.
•Coordinate installation with UWR staff, Building Coordinator,
Custodial Services.
•Adjust exterior service levels with UWR crew and Cedar Grove.
Evaluation
•Seek feedback from Custodial Services staff
•Survey building occupants; measure effectiveness of program.
•Analyze loading dock containers; adjust service level as needed.
Education / Outreach
INCREASED COLLABORATION

15. MINIMAX: THE SUCCESSES
IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

16. MINIMAX: THE SUCCESSES
INCREASED COMPOST DIVERSION
123.9
321.9
488.5
0.00
100.00
200.00
300.00
400.00
500.00
600.00
FY2013 FY2014 FY2015
Tons
Compost collected from UW
Academic & Facilities buildings

17. MINIMAX: THE SUCCESSES
INVESTMENT = SAVINGS
$0
$100,000
$200,000
$300,000
$400,000
$500,000
$600,000
$700,000
$800,000
Cost of Containers Compost Collection
Cost
Disposal Cost
Savings
FY14
FY15

18. MINIMAX: THE SUCCESSES
> Increased accessibility to recycling and composting.
• Consistency in centralized container type/size/quantity/locations.
> Added awareness / education on what goes where
• Illustrated signage placed on all containers.
IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE & SIGNAGE

19. MINIMAX: THE SUCCESSES
INCREASED OVERALL WASTE DIVERSION
1%
21%
29%
42%
52%
59%
52%
54%
59%
61% 61%
66%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
2008 2009-2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
% MiniMax % Waste Diversion

20. CHALLENGES

21. MINIMAX: THE CHALLENGES
> Low-hanging fruit has been picked.
> Compost carrot (incentive)
has been removed.
> Staffing issues within Custodial
Services impacts overall labor hours
redirected.

22. MINIMAX: THE CHALLENGES
2832
787
293
487
854
376
123
778
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
Academic/Facilities HFS ICA UWMC
Total Tons of Material Generated By Campus Group
Landfilled Tons
Diverted Tons
39%
Diversion
Rate
70%
Diversion
Rate
68%
Diversion
Rate
77%
Diversion
Rate

23. THE FUTURE OF MINIMAX
> Conduct pilot where deskside
containers are not placed in offices
(at all).
> MiniMax is no longer voluntary and
serves as the deskside standard for
ALL buildings on campus.
> 100% of campus is converted.
> Waste Diversion goal of 70%
by 2020 is reached.

24. THANK YOU
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Emily Newcomer
(206) 685-2811
emilyn2@uw.edu
Erica Bartlett
(206) 543-0443
ericab8@uw.edu